Volvo Q1 profit in line with forecast, raises North America outlook

STOCKHOLM, April 25 (Reuters) - World number two truck maker
Volvo posted a rise in quarterly core earnings in
line with expectations on Friday as firmer demand in its main
markets offset lingering costs for a vast renewal of its model
range and fierce currency headwinds.

Volvo, Sweden's biggest company by sales and top private
sector employer, also raised its outlook for the North American
truck market and said it would raise production there slightly,
but lowered its guidance somewhat for the Brazilian market.

The company, vying for market leadership with Germany's
Daimler, said first-quarter operating earnings
excluding restructuring charges rose to 2.59 billion Swedish
crowns from a year-ago 496 million, roughly on par with a mean
forecast 2.52 billion in a Reuters poll of analysts.